Refrigerating machine of the absorption type



1,632,387 June 14'1 AMUNDSEN REFRIGERATING MACHINE OF THE ABSORPTION TYPE Filed Feb. 21, 1925 Patented June 14, 1927.

UNITED STATES- IVAB AMUNDSEN, OF OSLO, NORWAY.

BEFRIGERATING MACEINE OF THE ABSOBPTTON TYPE.

Application filed February 21, 1925, Serial No. 10,972, and in Norway February 22, 1924'.

This invention relates to a refrigerating plant of the absorption type comprising a generator-absorber vessel, a condenser and an evaporator, the generator-absorber vesi sel containing an absorption medium, and being alternately cooled and heated to cause said absorption medium to alternately absorb and liberate a refrigerant as, the change-over from cooling to heatlng and J vice versa being efi'ected automatically.

The invention relates particularly to apparatus of this type wherein the'generatorabsorber vessel and its contents are cooled by circulating cooling water through suit- 5 able passages in the vessel, and the changeover from generation to absorption. is effected by means which in turn are operated by cooling, or other water, supplied to the apparatus.

- It has already been proposed in refrigerating apparatus of this kind to efl'ect the intermittent starting and stopping of the cooling and heating arrangements for the generator-absorber vessel by mechanism or 55 valves which in turn are operated by the rocking movement of water tanks which rock under the weight of water which flows into them, means in some cases being provided for regulating the flow of water into 0 said tanks.

It has also been proposed to provide refrigerating apparatus in which a generatorabsorber vessel is heated intermittently, the fuel supply conduit of the heater being al- I ternat ely opened. and closed through the medium of a float member which rises and falls with the varying water level in a water tank and which serves to open and close a valve in the conduit. According to K0 the present invention a refrigerating'plant' of the type referred to is provided in which the intermittent supply of cooling water to the generator-absorber vessel takes' place through a single stationary water tank provided with a known form of intermittent outlet device such as an automatic siphon, or or a float valve, for example, the operation of which is controlled by the level of the water in the tank. In such case means such as cocks or the like being provided both in the inlet and outlet pipes to and from said tank whereby the duration of the filling and emptying periods of the water tank may be accurately controlled and varied as desired.

This invention also consists in a refri eratlng plant having the beforementioned eatures and in which the cutting in and out of the device for heating the generator absorber vessel is effected by means of a member, actuated either by the intermittent flow of water through the generator-absorber vessel, or by the varying level of the water in the water tank.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows, diagrammatically, an embodlment of the invention in which electric heaftling of the generator absorber vessel is use Fig. 2 shows a. second embodiment wherein the heating of the generator absorber is effected by means employing gaseous or liquid fuel.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 designates the generator-absorber vessel, 35 a condenser and 38- an evaporator. 4 is the cooling device of the absorption vessel. 17 is a water tank serving as a. collector for cooling water for the absorption vessel, and at the same time as a cooler for thecondenser 35. The tank 17 is provided with a supply conduit for the cooling water and the inflow of water through said .conduit is controllable by the cook 18. The tank 17 is placed in connection with the cooling device 4 by means of a siphon 19.

The cooling device 4 is provided with an outlet conduit furnished with a control cook 20, and is also in connection with a U-shaped glass tube 21 containing a columnof mercury 22. In thislU-shaped tube are provided contacts 23 and 24 which are arranged in series in the circuit of an electric heating element 25 in the absorption vessel. Between the 95 column 22 of mercury and the cooling water there may be, and preferably is, arranged a layer of oil 26 or the like. A switch 27 in the electric circuit of the heater serves to start and interrupt the operation of the plant. l

The condenser 35 (Fig. 1 comprises a. tube coil connectedat one e'n to the evaporating vessel'36 which is provided with an insulating cover 40. From the bottom of the evaporating vessel the insulated tube 37 leads downwards terminating in a non-insulated evaporating tube coil 38. Tube 38 is led H During the time that the cooling water flame at the end of a tube illl;

so vmanner. It is supposed that the period of but may also be mounted separately', 9 Y

up. above the highest level of the liquid (k orated medium passes out through tube 35 in the evaporating vessel 36. A screen or and 12 to the absorption vessel. 55 cup 39 may be mounted over the outlet open- 'IIhe duratlon of the heating and cooling ing of the'evaporating tube. periods is thus regulated by adjustment of 6 The operation of the plant is as follows: the cocks 18 and 20. v

As water flows through'the inletvconduit If, instead of electric heating means, a under the'control of cook 18 and into the heating device employing gaseous'or'liquid, 60 water tank 17, the water level in the tank fuel be used, the starting and stopping". arrises to H When this level is reached, the ran ement illustrated in Fig. 2 ma be used.

10 siphon 19 enters into operation, and cooling In t is form a column 22 of liquid isadapted water flows through the cooling device 4 and by its displacement to open 'plose. the" out through the outlet conduit under the outlet opening of a fuel supply tube 28'which 5 control of cook 20. This flow continues unopens into tube 10. Ignition atia burner 29 .c til the water level in the tank9 has sunk to takes place by means of a small igniting v is flowing the pressure in device 4 causes the It will be understood 'thatjthe invention column of mercury 22 to be displaced, and may be carried out in ways other than those 7 the electric current supply to the heating eledescribed and indicated infthe drawings. ment 25 is thus interrupted through the Thus the automatically operating siphon movement of the mercury away from contact tank may be replaced by a float controlled 24. When the flow of cooling water through tank of a known construction, the float auto; the device 4 ceases, the column of mercury matically controlling the inlet and outlet 75 is permitted to return to its original posi openings of thetank. tion, so that contact is made between the mer- Further the cutting in and out of the heat-f cury and contact 24 and the heating period ing device may take place directly by means of the absorption vessel commences and conof the float, by means of a simple mechanical tinues until the water level in the tank 5 transmission and thus make the tube 21 so again reaches H i superfluous. Also the tank 17 need not nec-,

The evaporator operates inthe ollowing essarily be combined with" the condenser,"

liberation of as from the absorption vessel Having now particularly described. and, -i commences w en the levelof liquid in the s e ained he n re of my invention, and .85 evaporating vessel is at the bottom of the in whatmanner the same is tojbe performed, vessel as indicated at h During the period I declare that what I claim is'zai of liberation the refrigerating gas is con- A refrigerating plant, comprising agenerdensed in condenser 35 and the condensed re- M r v ssel, a stationary cooling-"5 I frigerating liquid flows into evaporating veswater tank, a cooler for the vessehaninte'r '90; sel 40, filling the same. The circulation of mittent outlet device discharging from the a the refrigerating liquid through tube 37 and n to Said controlled y't e -x "1 40 38 during this period is prevented by the level in the tank, an inletpipe for-the tank, fact that the top of tube 38 lies above the and an outlet/ ipe for said cooler, control n v highest level of" the refri crating liquid in means in the'in et andoutlet pipeswherebyevaporating vessel 36. H ereby the loss of the duration of the'filling and emptying. pe' efficiency owing to condensation in the evap- Ode of thetank can be accurately controlle oratmg tank is reduced to a nin'imum; and variedras'desired, a heating element for When thepe'riod of liberation is interruptthe vesseh'and a member actuated the ins V I ed and the period of absorption in the ab- 'terniittent flow ofjwaterfrom said .tankfor I The gas and liquid passing-out at-the top of sorption vessel 1 is started, evaporation becutting the heating eIementJ-into and out. of gins to take place in evaporating tube 38.v operatlon- In testimony that I claim the foregoing "as the tube 38 impinges against cup 39 from my invention I have signed my name;

which the liquid particles are deflected back I V v r to the liquid in the vessel, whereas the evapi IVAR -AMUITDSEII. 

